A Comparison of Fresh Frozen vs. Formalin-Fixed,Paraffin-Embedded Specimens of Canine Mammary Tumors via Branched-DNA Assay

Mammary neoplasms are the tumors most affecting female dogs and women. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues are an invaluable source of archived biological material. Fresh frozen (FF) tissue is considered ideal for gene expression analysis. However, strategies based on FFPE material offer several advantages. Branched-DNA assays permit a reliable and fast workflow when analyzing gene expression. The aim of this study was to assess the comparability of the branched-DNA assay when analyzing certain gene expression patterns between FF and FFPE samples in canine mammary tumors. RNA was isolated from 109 FFPE samples and from 93 FF samples of different canine mammary tissues. Sixteen (16) target genes (Tp53; Myc; HMGA1; Pik3ca; Mcl1; MAPK3; FOXO3; PTEN; GATA4; PFDN5; HMGB1; MAPK1; BRCA2; BRCA1; HMGA2; and Her2) were analyzed via branched-DNA assay (b-DNA). ACTB, GAPDH, and HPRT1 were used as data normalizers. Overall, the relative gene expression of the two different origins of samples showed an agreement of 63%. Still, care should be taken, as FFPE specimens showed lower expression of the analyzed targets when compared to FF samples. The fact that the gene expression in FFPE proved to be lower than in FF specimens is likely to have been caused by the effect of storage time. ACTB had the best performance as a data normalizer.     

The formation and breakup of molten oxide jets under periodic excitation

The experiments on the capillary breakup of slag jets at high temperatures are presented in this article. The impact of external excitations on the disintegration process was investigated in a furnace with optical access filmed at frame rates up to 10,000 fps. A synthetic calcia‐alumina slag was used to form jets at different temperatures (1570–1660°C) and jet velocities (0.6–1.4 ms^?1). The impact of external vibration on the breakup was evident: for low jet velocities, the jet length decreased, the droplet size increased, satellite droplet formation was hindered, and a distinct “pumping mechanism” was observed. For jets with higher velocity, the jet length decreased by 30%, the droplet generation frequency increased from 20 to 250 droplets per second, the drop sizes were uniform, and satellite formation was also suppressed. In this case, the ideal case in which the volume of one wave instability forms one droplet was achieved. © 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 60: 3350–3361, 2014     

Unraveling the Dynamic Nanoscale Reducibility (Ce4+ → Ce3+) of CeOx–Ru in Hydrogen Activation

The interaction of molecular hydrogen with ceria is of important relevance for heterogeneous catalysis related to green chemistry and renewable energy. Here, the complex structural transformations of a well‐defined cerium oxide model catalyst are followed in situ and in real time when exposed to a reactive H₂ environment. By using electron spectromicroscopy and diffraction with chemical and structural sensitivities, it is demonstrated that the transition from CeO₂ to crystalline Ce₂O₃ occurs through a mixture of transient, coexisting phases on the nanoscale. The findings establish a clear relationship between structure and functionality for hydrogen dissociation over ceria(111), bearing profound implications on the nature of the reduction (Ce⁴⁺ → Ce³⁺) and mechanism for H₂ scission.     

Joint modelling of obstacle induced and mesoscale changes—Current limits and challenges

Obstacles considerably influence boundary layer processes. Their influences have been included in mesoscale models (MeM) for a long time. Methods used to parameterise obstacle effects in a MeM are summarised in this paper using results of the mesoscale model METRAS as examples. Besides the parameterisation of obstacle influences it is also possible to use a joint modelling approach to describe obstacle induced and mesoscale changes. Three different methods may be used for joint modelling approaches: The first method is a time-slice approach, where steady basic state profiles are used in an obstacle resolving microscale model (MiM, example model MITRAS) and diurnal cycles are derived by joining steady-state MITRAS results. The second joint modelling approach is one-way nesting, where the MeM results are used to initialise the MiM and to drive the boundary values of the MiM dependent on time. The third joint modelling approach is to apply multi-scale models or two-way nesting approaches, which include feedbacks from the MiM to the MeM. The advantages and disadvantages of the different approaches and remaining problems with joint Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes modelling approaches are summarised in the paper.     

Residual strength prediction of a complex structure using crack extension analyses

The residual strength of a flat panel (thickness 7.6 mm) with five stringers, machined from a monolithic block of Al2024-T351 material, which contained a crack that divided the central stringer, was to be predicted during a Round Robin organised by ASTM. The initial crack tips were right ahead of the stringers #2 and #4, respectively, so that crack branching along the skin and into the stringers occurred after initiation. The prediction has been achieved using finite element simulations including crack extension, for which a cohesive model was utilised. Conventional material properties, yield and ultimate strength as well as experimental results from M(T) specimens in terms of force, COD and Δa, were given. The residual strength prediction was performed in two-steps: First the crack extension parameters for the cohesive model, the cohesive strength, T₀, and the cohesive energy, Γ₀, were determined by numerical reproduction of the results of the M(T) specimen. With the optimised parameters, the five-stringer panel was modelled. These steps were conducted by two different finite element models: by a shell and a 3D finite element mesh. It turned out that it is possible to analyse the structure with both models. In the 3D case, the residual strength prediction was conservative and the deviation of the predicted from the experimental value was below 9%. The results of the shell simulation were even closer to the experiment (deviation approximately 3%), but the simulation was non-conservative.     

Impact of selective oxidation during inline annealing prior to hot-dip galvanizing on Zn wetting and hydrogen-induced delayed cracking of austenitic FeMnC steel

The present study discusses the impact of selective oxidation during in-line annealing of Fe–23%Mn–0.6%C–0.3%Si steel on surface and sub-surface properties and is focused on hot-dip galvanizability and susceptibility to hydrogen-induced delayed cracking. Annealing temperature (700–1100 °C) and dewpoint DP (? 15/?30/?50 °C) of the 5%H₂–N₂ annealing atmosphere were varied in order to investigate Zn wetting in dependence on selective oxidation of Mn and Si. Sub-surface microplasticity (hardness, pop-in frequency, pop-in activation load) was examined by electrochemical nanoindentation in-situ to hydrogen charging (ECNI) to assess hydrogen/material interactions. Zn wetting fails if external Mn and Si oxidation is not avoided by performing high reductive bright annealing (1100 °C/DP ? 50 °C). Zn wetting will however turn to increase if a roughly globular MnO layer appears and Si is internally oxidized (700–900 °C/DP ? 15 °C). Selective oxidation further affects hydrogen/material interactions by influencing the local distribution of solid-soluted Mn: ECNI results indicate hydrogen-induced dislocation demobilization (HEDE mechanism) or dislocation mobilization (HELP mechanism) in dependence on the local amount of solid-soluted Mn within the sub-surface. Macroscopic delayed cracking seems to occur earlier if HELP is predominating. The gained results benefit understanding the impact of selective oxidation on galvanizability and susceptibility to hydrogen-induced failure of austenitic FeMnC steel and advance further developments in processing high Mn alloyed steels.     

FLOW BOILING OF WATER AND n -HEPTANE IN MICRO CHANNELS

Heat transfer characteristics during flow boiling in micro channels with rectangular cross section were studied using a thermographic measuring method. The characteristic length of the channels investigated was varied in a region of 300 w m up to 700 w m. The channels were designed as Joule heating pipes. Thus, the evaporation was achieved under conditions of nearly constant heat fluxes at the heating wall of the channel. The thermographic measuring method was used to examine the wall temperature. The high spatial and temporal resolution of this thermographic measuring method makes it possible to detect the axial position of the different boiling regions. Furthermore, it allows conclusions to be made on which flow conditions occur in the different sections of the channel. Experimental results are shown with water and n -heptane as the fluid to be vaporized. The results of measurements are discussed and a correlation is given of the location where the dryout starts with the characteristic parameters. The dependence of the pressure drop in such channels on the technological parameters has also been presented.     

Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Chromium Bioorganometallics Based on the Antibiotic Platensimycin Lead Structure

The recent discovery of the natural product platensimycin as a new antibiotic lead structure has triggered the synthesis of numerous organic derivatives for structure–activity relationship studies. Herein, we describe the synthesis, characterization and biological evaluation of the first organometallic antibiotic inspired by platensimycin. Two bioorganometallic compounds containing (η⁶‐pentamethylbenzene)Cr(CO)₃ ( 2 ) and (η⁶‐benzene)Cr(CO)₃ ( 3 ), linked by an amide bond to the aromatic part of platensimycin, were synthesized. Their antibiotic activities were tested against B. subtilis 168 (Gram positive) and E. coli W3110 (Gram negative) bacterial strains. Both compounds were found to be inactive against E. coli but derivative 2 inhibits B. subtilis growth at a moderate MIC value of 0.15 mM . To test the intrinsic toxicity of chromium, several chromium salts along with {η⁶‐(3‐pentamethylphenyl propionic acid)}Cr(CO)₃ ( 5 ) and {η⁶‐(3‐phenyl propionic acid)}Cr(CO)₃ ( 6 ) were tested against both bacterial strains. No activity was observed against E. coli for any of the compounds; B. subtilis growth was not inhibited by Cr(NO₃)₃ and only very weakly by 5 , K₂Cr₂O₇ and Na₂CrO₄ at MIC values of 0.5, 0.68 and 1.24 mM , respectively. Compounds 2 , 3 , 5 and 4 (the pure organic analogue of 2 ) show similar cytotoxicity against HeLa, HepG2 and HT‐29 mammalian cell lines. Furthermore, the cellular uptake and the intracellular distribution of compounds 2 , 3 and Cr(NO₃)₃ in B. subtilis were studied using atomic absorption spectroscopy to gain insight in to the possible cellular targets. Compound 2 was found to be readily taken up and distributed almost equally among cytosol, cell debris and cell membrane in B. subtilis.     

On-machine wire electrical discharge dressing (WEDD) of metal-bonded grinding wheels

Traditional multivariate control charts such as Hotelling’s χ ² and T ² control charts are designed to monitor vectors of variable quality characteristics. However, in certain situations, data are expressed in linguistic terms and, under these circumstances, variable or attribute multivariate control charts are not suitable choices for monitoring purposes. Fuzzy multivariate control charts such as fuzzy Hotelling’s T ² could be considered as efficient tools to overcome the problems of linguistic observations. The purpose of this paper is to develop a fuzzy multivariate exponentially weighted moving average (F-MEWMA) control chart. In this paper, multivariate statistical quality control and fuzzy set theory are combined to develop the proposed method. Fuzzy sets and fuzzy logic are powerful mathematical tools for modeling uncertain systems in industry, nature, and humanity. Through a numerical example, the performance of the proposed control chart was compared to the fuzzy Hotelling’s T ² control chart. Results indicate uniformly superior performance of the F-MEWMA control chart over Hotelling’s T ² control chart.